Is it normal to prefer to stay at home over a social event?

[MulLa]

Hi all,

To cut a long story short, we've got this social even at work, well it's just finished this afternoon actually. It's a lunch at a horse racing event.

I've told my gf that I'd much rather be at home in front of the computer reading Anandtech!!! She just laughed and tell me that's not what most people would prefer. Well, I do admit to that but I just felt that there must be a lot more people out there who have similar feelings towards these events?

It's nothing more than a social gathering of a few staff members (turn out rate is around 50% for our local state office), an excuse to get drunk and socialise about pointless topics.

What do you guys think?

 

[Eli]

Sure. It might be "normal" for you.

What is "normal" anyway?

Classifications suck.

 

[bandana163]

It's normal if you think it is.

 

[Kilgor]

It's normal if thats what you want to do.

 

[illustri]

don't listen to any of the previous guys
you're a freakish dissident who's perversions threaten to unravel the knots of decent society

 

[Gurck]

It's abnormal. I'm the same way.

 

[Lonyo]

If it's lunch at a horse race meet, it's normal to want to stay at home.

 

[TheLonelyPhoenix]

Shooting the sh!t with a bunch of work people, while watching horses run in circles, does not strike me as a good time.

Going to have to say you're normal.

 

[jagec]

depends on the party...lunch at the horse track COULD be fun, but probably not.

 

[illustri]

Alcohol makes any social gathering bearable. You can have fun watching the horses shot and ground into pedigree if youre drunk.

 

[TheLonelyPhoenix]

Originally posted by: illustri
Alcohol was involved and he missed out. You can have fun watching the horses shot and ground into pedigree if youre drunk.

Good point.

 

[nageov3t]

work gatherings are like some inner circle of hell. I don't blame you for not wanting to go.

 

[MulLa]

Gee... I suppose you guys are right to say that no one is normal. You're normal as long as you think is it. I like that I think I'm going to use that whenenver someone tells me I'm obssessed with computers!

The trouble is everyone at work is soooooooooo excited about it on Friday plus my manager wanting me to go there thinking it's a good socialising opportunity for me..... <sigh>..... Oh well. At least I know there are many fellow ATOT'ers who have similar preferenced If only we all work at the same place

 

[sandorski]

Most people would go and hate being there, your not going is just a choice to make your life more worth living. That said, if you want a promotion or acheive some other goal at work, you'd be better off being there.

 

[oogabooga]

you're a freak!! ooooiii glaven.

I dunno about lunch at a horse track, but i hope there are at least some social events you would prefer over staying at home on ATOT.

 

[phonemonkey]

Given the people that I work with I'd do about anything rather than go to a social gathering. It's not that I don't like them, even though I don't, I just don't share anything in common with my coworkers.

On a related note, the people I work for still haven't figured out that it's not a good idea for morale to schedule the entire night crew shift to come in for a meeting on how to lock your computer (I only wish I was kidding) in the middle of the day. Looks like we'll be a bit short staffed that night.

 

[MulLa]

I suppose if there's a bit of 'activity' involved rather than just drinking and talking I'd enjoy it a bit more. Just that I'm not that much of a talker and besides like phonemonkey has put it, I don't really have that much common with the people that I work with.

How to lock your computer.... Mmmm.... Niiiiice

 

[phonemonkey]

I'd say you've got some nonspecific illness (or some business critical activity) that will keep you away. Well, that is if you care to give a reason why you won't be going. Otherwise, just take the time off for neffing reasons

 

[Goosemaster]

I don't knwo about you, but hanging out with people from work has always been weird....I have been to bars with them and am just plain uncomfortable...

Perhaps it has something to with going out to drink with your co-workers, addressing your boss as "hey, you fat bastard" over drinks at the bar, and addressing him as "sir" the next day..

 

[moshquerade]

Originally posted by: MulLa
Hi all,

To cut a long story short, we've got this social even at work, well it's just finished this afternoon actually. It's a lunch at a horse racing event.

I've told my gf that I'd much rather be at home in front of the computer reading Anandtech!!! She just laughed and tell me that's not what most people would prefer. Well, I do admit to that but I just felt that there must be a lot more people out there who have similar feelings towards these events?

It's nothing more than a social gathering of a few staff members (turn out rate is around 50% for our local state office), an excuse to get drunk and socialise about pointless topics.

What do you guys think?

if you would rather stay home than socialize you might be depressed.

 

[badmouse]

Considering that I COULD be at a family social event right now, but I stayed home - and here I am posting on ATOT - I'd say that you're normal.

 

[T2T III]

Go to the function to make an appearance. It does not mean that you have to stay the whole time. Just don't develop any bad patterns by blowing such events off to stay home in front of the computer - it's not a good habit to have.

 

[MaxDSP]

you're in Australia, don't they have anything more interesting than horse racing? Like wallaby rodeo or something?

 

[Mucho]

I never go to my company's Christmast party ever wont go this year either.

 

[Fritzo]

I'm that way with work gatherings. I see these people 8-10 hours a day, most of them have no relationship with me outside the workplace, so I'm not very excited about going. Once in a while it's fun but I'm a homebody myself.